How to prepare steam heating of an old private house for the winter?

Good evening. Unfortunately, your question is not entirely clear. I would even say that he is strange. Where did you get the water in the pipes with steam heating? I understand condensate, but water? The steam heating system implies steam as the heat carrier.

Further, let's say that you made a mistake or it is some kind of heating unknown to anyone. For water to tear the container from frost, it is necessary that the cavity of the pipe is completely filled with water, its freezing will cause expansion and, accordingly, will break the pipe. Instead of draining the pipe at all, it should be a bend in that place or a blockage.

So far I can only advance the theory to you because of insufficient information.

1. Assume that you drain the condensate and your heating is steam. In this case, you do not have water left in the pipe and the pipe breaks for another reason. In general, the more often water is drained from the pipes during the winter, the less is their lifespan. There remains condensate, which upon contact with oxygen gives a natural oxidation process over time, which is enough for the winter period. This means that a crack occurs due to corrosion of the pipes and their natural destruction.

2. You made a mistake and you have a water circuit. The system’s shortage is easily solved by installing a shut-off valve in this place. Then you can just open this tap for the winter and drain the water to the end.

If your heating would work all year round, I would advise you a lot of options for insulation of pipes, but when turned off, this option certainly will not work, since the room will have a minus temperature, and the insulation itself insulates, but does not heat.

It’s not entirely clear if in cold weather you don’t live in the house, why do you then refill the coolant? Or is it for early spring and late autumn?

In any case, an outdated heating system should be changed if there is a breakthrough during operation - it is life threatening, hot steam under pressure will fly out at a tremendous speed and scald everyone who will be in the room. And now this is the only solution to your problem.

Of course, you can advise you to install electric convectors and put them at + 5- + 7 degrees + heat insulation (it is necessary to heat the house with external insulation). Electricity costs will be minimal, and it will be possible to heat the house year-round. If you wish, write in the comments, I will try to calculate the most profitable option for you. Or the most worthy option of seasonal heating, depending on your wishes.